datethewordtest

Tag: Jan 3rd

  • The Blessings Of Being A Believer

    Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”

    Do you realize how BLESSED you are by being a believer?  The apostle Paul starts his letter to the Ephesians reminding them that God has blessed the believer with EVERY – yes, EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING.   Now read this opening statement with great enthusiasm, with great joy.  Being a believer is to be BLESSED by God.  Let that stir your heart.  

    As he moves forward in chapter 1 he tells of the blessings that come from being saved. For instance, the believer has gone from being an alien to being adopted into the family of God.   We now call God our FATHER.  There is the blessing of REDEMPTION and forgiveness of our sins.  

    Our list can go on and on.  What spiritual blessing are you most grateful for?

    Paul is not alone in pointing out the blessings of salvation as the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

    How do we respond to the blessings we have received?  1. Worship the one who has so richly blessed you.  2. Enjoy the blessing.  3. Be a blessing! We are Blessed to Bless!

    Continue Strong enjoy the blessings of God, 
    And Remember to Date the Word

  • Defend What Was Delivered

    Jude 1:3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

    It has been said that Christianity is one generation from extinction.  The faith that we have received is to be shared from one generation to the next generation.  As well, Christianity has to be defended as it is under constant attack.  The reason for the strong exhortation to contend earnestly for the faith in verse 3 is found in verse 4 as it says, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    To contend earnestly for the faith, you will need to not just know what you believe but why you believe it. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 we are to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  

    One might ask what are we to “earnestly contend for” regarding our faith.  What are the crucial doctrines to defend?  There are 5 essential doctrines that we must not compromise on.  They are traditionally called the five fundamentals.

    We believe in the Inspiration of Scripture.  
    We believe in the Virgin birth of Christ.
    We believe in the Substitutionary death of Christ.
    We believe in the Bodily resurrection of Christ.
    We believe in the Second Coming of Christ.

    These five fundamentals are non-negotiable. My discipler, Bill Crawford, told me there could be no compromise of these five doctrines.  He told me that I was to stand for the faith!  
    In a world that hates Christianity and demands tolerance and acceptance of all beliefs and behaviors you, as a believer, must be firm on your beliefs.  Without being arrogant or contentious you give solid reasons, defending, yes, contending for the faith that has been delivered to you! 

    Do you know what you believe about your Christian beliefs?  Do you know why you believe what you believe?  What areas need to be strengthened so that you can give solid reasons and defend what you believe?

    Action item: Find your church’s doctrinal statement, then read, and review it.

    Continue Strong defending the faith delivered to you,
    And remember to DATE the Word